Unveiling of Queen Elizabeth II Portrait
A special portrait of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, commissioned and donated by Terrence J. Donnelly to mark Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. (Communications Nova Scotia)
A special portrait of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly’s Red Chamber today, April 30, by Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc and Deputy Speaker Nolan Young.
The portrait was commissioned and donated to the House of Assembly by Terrence J. Donnelly to mark Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. It was painted by artist Dr. Suan-Seh Foo, who was also selected by Mr. Donnelly.
“If the Crown represents the power of the state, the sovereign is the human embodiment of the Crown. In fulfilling that role for over seven decades, Queen Elizabeth II was – before her passing – the only sovereign that many of us knew,” said Deputy Speaker Young. “With her strong sense of duty and devotion to public service, Her late Majesty epitomized the stability and continuity that are the hallmarks of the Canadian monarchy. But more than that, Queen Elizabeth II shared a connection with Nova Scotia.”
The portrait is unveiled. (Communications Nova Scotia)
Her late Majesty visited the province during royal tours in 1951 (as princess), 1959, 1976, 1994 and 2010. The unique portrait includes many depictions of symbols that reflect her connection to Nova Scotia and its people. These symbols include:
- Province House, which the Queen visited in 1951 and in 1994
- the yellow dress worn by the Queen during her last visit to Nova Scotia in 2010; the collars and cuffs include Mi’kmaw beadwork by Genevieve Julian and Valerie Julian Meader of Millbrook First Nation
- an enamel maple leaf brooch worn by the Queen during her 2010 visit to the province and originally given to Queen Mary as Duchess of Cornwall and York by Lady Strathcona on behalf of the Citizens’ Reception Committee in Montreal during the 1901 Royal Tour
- the mayflower, the official provincial flower of Nova Scotia
- the town clock on Citadel Hill with a seagull flying above it; the clock was built under the direction of Queen Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent, when he resided in Nova Scotia.
L-R: Andrew (Antle) Denny, Grand Keptin of the Mi’kmaw Grand Council; Lt-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc; Mrs. Patsy LeBlanc; Norman Sylliboy, Grand Chief of the Grand Council; and Nolan Young, Deputy Speaker, Nova Scotia House of Assembly. (Communications Nova Scotia)
The public is invited to view the portrait in the Red Chamber. Province House is open to the public for self-guided tours on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Details of a summer guided tour program at Province House will be posted to the House of Assembly website soon: https://nslegislature.ca/